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Keeping the American Dream Alive: USC Marshall Alum Lays the Groundwork for a Sustainable Future

Keeping the American Dream Alive: USC Marshall Alum Lays the Groundwork for a Sustainable Future

Fueled by his experience at USC Marshall, Randy Kendrick ’86 is building a future marked by innovation and sustainability.

by: Bea Huff Hunter
09.19.24
Randy Kendrick '86 poses at his recent sustainable development project

Randall R. Kendrick ’86 stands at his recent sustainable development project called Sandow Lakes Ranch in Austin, Texas.
[Photo courtesy of Randall Kendrick]

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  • Geoffrey Garrett

    Geoffrey Garrett
    • Dean, USC Marshall School of Business
    • Robert R. Dockson Dean's Chair in Business Administration
    • Professor of Management and Organization
  • Nick Vyas

    Nick Vyas
    • Founding Director Randall R. Kendrick Global Supply Chain Institute
    • Academic Director MS Global Supply Chain Management
    • Associate Professor of Clinical Data Sciences and Operations

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Randy Kendrick’s story is one of vision, determination, and a deep commitment to giving back. A first-generation college student who grew up in a rebar yard contractor’s world, Kendrick always knew he wanted to be a developer. At just 12 years old, his father encouraged this, setting him on a path to remarkable success.

Today, Kendrick stands as a testament to the power of the American dream, using his success to pay it forward and help shape a more sustainable future for generations to come.

When he was 17 years old, Kendrick landed his first job as a construction disbursement inspector at a bank in Irvine. There, he recalls learning about acclaimed master planners and developers Donald Bren and Anthony Moiso — two pillars of American real estate development Kendrick came to greatly admire, and whose work would eventually inspire his own.

Kendrick’s own journey began shortly after that at USC Marshall School of Business, where he was recruited by legendary track coach Vern Wolfe and discovered the academic program that would ultimately shape his career. The Real Property Development & Management program, led by then Associate Professor Rocky Tarantello, was rigorous and selective, taking in only 25 students a year.

“He is the most brilliant economist I’ve ever met,” Kendrick said. “I was blessed to get into that program.”

In the summer between his junior and senior years, Kendrick participated in a full-time internship with Oxford Properties, where he gained hands-on experience on large-scale industrial projects in Commerce, California. These experiences, combined with the mentorship of Professor Tarantello, helped Kendrick develop a deep understanding of the intersection of supply chains, transportation infrastructure, and real estate dynamics — which would later play a crucial role in his success as a real estate business leader.

“Dr. Tarantello, to this day, is a dear friend and truly my mentor, who taught me how to do what we’ve been lucky enough to do,” Kendrick said.

Kendrick graduated from USC Marshall in 1986 and started his own company the same day. As founder of Xebec Realty, he recognized the rise of e-commerce and the importance of being in the right place at the right time. But Kendrick quickly emphasizes that while luck plays a role in success, it’s not everything.

You have to have a plan, be a doer, and follow that plan. It’s about your work ethic, your sense of purpose.

— Randall Kendrick ’86

Founder, Xebec Realty

This sense of purpose and forward-thinking approach led Kendrick to Sandow Lakes Ranch in 2021, a 33,000-acre property northeast of Austin in the heart of the “Texas Triangle.” Kendrick firmly believes that everything he had done before led him to this place and time, truly what he was destined for. The property was once the largest aluminum smelter on earth, built in 1950 by the Aluminum Company of America (Alcoa), and is now being transformed into a model of sustainability and innovation under Kendrick’s guidance. The first-announced phase of the project includes a 3,500-acre Advanced Manufacturing and Logistix Campus (AMLC), a 50 million-square-foot master-planned industrial park with a range of occupier prospects, including Amazon.

But at the heart of Kendrick’s vision for Sandow Lakes Ranch is sustainability. The development aspires to be carbon-neutral, focuses on creating a live-work environment that supports young families, and addresses many of the core challenges we face as a society today, from the high cost of living to quality food and water insecurity. Kendrick aims to capitalize on innovative greenhouse technology allowing multiple yearly crops with minimal water usage and no pesticides. The property’s 15 lakes and one of the largest fully permitted and vested subsurface water rights in Texas also open opportunities for sustainable practices, such as salmon farming.

“I think the younger generation is very focused on their experience here on Earth and their quality of life, which I think is great.” Kendrick said. “We’re trying to build a place where those people can live, work, and thrive. We’re working hard to make this a truly special, unique, and beautiful place.”

Kendrick’s commitment to inclusive, sustainable economic growth is not limited to Sandow Lakes. In 2021, he made a pivotal $20 million gift to support the USC Marshall global supply chain management program. In recognition, the program was renamed the Randall R. Kendrick Global Supply Chain Institute. The Institute shapes innovative, responsible leaders who embrace resiliency, agility, and sustainability in the organizations and communities that enrich the world — a top priority for Kendrick, USC Marshall Dean Geoffrey Garrett, and Associate Professor of Clinical Data Sciences and Operations Nick Vyas, who heads the institute. As an official USC “moonshot,” the university has pledged to go carbon neutral by 2025 — which aligns perfectly with Kendrick’s vision for the future. The gift, the third largest in USC Marshall’s 100-year history, also supported scholarships, endowed faculty, and other resources.

Kendrick looks forward to future opportunities to leverage his valued Marshall network for creative and other development aspects of the project.

As Kendrick continues to develop Sandow Lakes and expand his operations at Xebec, he remains focused on a more sustainable future — on developing a model for living that can be recognized and emulated around the world.

“The United States is on the precipice of a manufacturing Renaissance,” Kendrick said. “And if you’re willing to get up in the morning and go to work, there aren’t any limits to what you can do.”

The American dream is alive and well, and Kendrick is proof. With Sandow Lakes, Kendrick isn’t just building a town the size of San Francisco — he’s building a legacy.

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